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SCUTTLEBUTT 1493 - January 9, 2004Powered by SAIC (www.saic.com), an employee-owned company. Scuttlebutt is adigest of major yacht racing news, commentary, opinions, features and dock talk . . . with a North American focus. Corrections, contributions, press releases, constructive criticism and contrasting viewpoints are always welcome, but save your bashing and personal attacks for elsewhere. AND THE WINNERS ARE: DIAZ AND SWETT Augie Diaz of Miami, Fla., and Hannah Swett of New York, N.Y., today were named the 2003 Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year, respectively. A panel of sailing journalists selected the two accomplished sailors for the distinction from a shortlist of seven nominees for the Rolex Yachtsman and five nominees for the Rolex Yachtswoman. Established in 1961 by US Sailing and sponsored by Rolex Watch U.S.A. since 1980, the Rolex Yachtsman and Yachtswoman of the Year Awards recognize outstanding on-the-water achievement in the calendar year just concluded. The winners will be honored and presented with specially engraved Rolex timepieces at a February 6, 2004, luncheon at the New York Yacht Club in Manhattan. Rolex Yachtsman of the Year - Augie Diaz, age 49, was recognized for his achievements as a skipper in three different one-design classes - Laser, Snipe and Star. Many of the panelists noted that Diaz has been nominated many times before; however this was his best year ever, competing in what are perhaps three of the most competitive fleets in the world. A string of regional regatta successes culminated in his win of the Snipe World Championship title and one panelist noted "his versatility in one-designs, not just one class, continues to be impressive." Diaz is the first U.S. sailor to win the Snipe World Championship since 1981. His list of achievements also includes victories at the Snipe Midwinters and the Don Q Regatta, as well as top-five finishes at the Bacardi Cup, Snipe Nationals and Rolex Laser Masters North American Championships, where he won his division. "I am very honored," said a humble Diaz upon learning the news. "The magnitude of the award hasn't really hit me. I have so many people to thank, from my folks to my crew. I've been fortunate to sail with Jon Rogers, Christian Finsgärd, Mark Strube and Hal Haenel. I get so much pleasure from sailing; this is just so special." In 1997 he returned to sailing with one goal in mind. "I decided that I was going to work and sail," Diaz said. "I figured that the feeling would pass in two to three years, but now it's literally to the point where all I do is work and sail. Luckily my kids and my girlfriend put up with it. And at this stage the feeling isn't going away!" Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year - Hannah Swett, age 34, was cited by the panel for full-time dedication to her Olympic campaign in the very competitive Yngling class, which will make its debut at the 2004 Olympic Regatta in Athens, Greece. Swett's list of achievements in the Yngling is topped with victory at the Yngling World Championship, where her team competed among a fleet of 40. "I am truly honored to accept this prestigious award," said Swett. "I accept it on behalf of my teammates Melissa Purdy and Joan Touchette. Together we accomplished a great deal in the past year." In 2000 when ISAF did not select match racing as the format for the new women's only keelboat event at the 2004 Olympic Games, Swett decided to return to her family's real estate business full-time. That decision was soon interrupted by a phone call from Purdy who persuaded her old friend to take up the helm of an Yngling once again. "I couldn't turn down an offer like that," said Swett. "It's been great to be so completely involved with something. I've never had an experience like this before, not in sailing, not in business, and it is thrilling." The banner year includes an impressive string of first-place finishes at the Yngling Olympic Pre-Trials, Scandinavian Race Week and Danish Nationals, as well as a second out of 85 boats at the Yngling Open World Championship. Swett is also recognized as one of the best match racers in the world and in 2003 she participated in two events, finishing second at the ISAF Grade 1 Rolex Osprey Cup and third at US Sailing' U.S. Women's Match Race Championship. This prompted one panelist to note that "even though she spends almost all of her time in the Yngling, she found the time to have fun and do very, very well in match racing." - Full story: http://www.ussailing.org/pressreleases/2004/yywinners.htm THE LAUNCHING At a build cost of £1 million, B & Q Castorama is one of the world's most expensive "all-terrain vehicles". This is Ellen MacArthur's description of her new trimaran, officially named in Sydney yesterday, in which she will attempt to break a string of solo sailing records. The Nigel Irens-designed trimaran, reminiscent of a muscular prop forward, is actually intended to behave quite differently to her appearance: moderate in power, manageable by one person and reasonably forgiving in her nature. "She's powerful, yet graceful," says MacArthur. "She's one of the few boats specifically created to go into the Southern Ocean." * The chord of the wing mast is three times as wide as she is - if MacArthur is intimidated by the sheer scale and power of the boat, she does not show it. She is used to even more extreme multihulls - length limits in the big short-handed races such as the Transat and Route du Rhum have fixed modern racing trimarans at 60ft. To gain power, the boats have got wider, their structures lighter, and sail area has been crammed on. These ORMA 60s are the most exciting race boats in the world today and MacArthur has raced them across the Atlantic two-handed. "That's effectively single-handed, because the other person is asleep when you're awake," she says. This experience told her how big a sail plan she could manage, so B & Q Castorama has effectively got a 60ft boat's rig on a 75ft hull, though with a 30-metre mast. The length was determined for speed and seakindliness. To mitigate against a multihull's least welcome feature - tripping over her bows and cartwheeling - Irens has given all three hulls buoyancy and height forward and then kept the rig and weight back. In short, the boat is designed to be tolerant. "Still," says MacArthur, "I don't expect to be getting much sleep. Sailing a multihull in a record situation is going to be very stressful, harder than I can imagine. - Tim Jeffery, The Daily Telegraph, full story: http://tinyurl.com/25dsw DEPTH/TEMP SMARTDUCER AND OCKAM INTERFACE The latest generation Airmar Smartducer on our Recommended Components list (029AFP) outputs NMEA sentences for both depth and sea temperature. Ockam's 028 NMEA Depth interface now accepts both sentences, providing Depth Keel, Depth Surface, and Sea Temperature functions on the displays. Bermuda bound in /04? Now's the time to setup for Sea Temp. Contact Tom Davis (tom@ockam.com) or visit our website for more info: http://www.ockam.com MOUNT GAY HAT POLICY In Scuttlebutt 1487 there was a letter about Mount Gay Rum hats being sold in San Francisco shops. Our policy never has been to wholesale hats to shops to sell our Mount Gay Rum hats and this will not change. The hats are produced in limited quantities and are especially made for each Mount Gay Rum sponsored regatta. We continually hear from sailors of their collections of Mount Gay Rum hats and their enamored attachment to these exclusive and unique hats that emblazon many sailing memories for them. They are a distinctive acquisition for a sailor and we understand the sentimental value these hats have - we want this to remain. You have Mount Gay Rum's word that the hats have never and will not be retailed by the brand. - Nicolas Guillant, Mount Gay Rum Brand Manager NEWS BRIEFS * Ten new 68-foot racing yachts, from the drawing board of Ed Dubois currently under construction at Shanghai Double Happiness Yachts will start the Clipper 05-06 Round the World Yacht Race on Sunday, 18 September 2005. The event will be divided into 12 individual races, taking its crews on the longest route of all round the world races - some 35,000 nautical miles. The city of Liverpool will be joined by the state of Western Australia and the South African port city of Durban in the international line-up for the competition. www.clipper-ventures.com * The municipality of Valencia and AC Management have scheduled a meeting in Geneva in February "to define a strategy of development", to write a "image and mark instruction manual" and to get along on a "common message of communication". During this meeting, the contracts will be finalized and the "parallel events" (cultural, social...) will be examined. - Cup in Europe website, full story: http://www.cupineurope.com/LatestNews/ValenciaNews1LN.htm * The Museum of Yachting located at Fort Adams State Park in Newport, RI. has selected David Brown as their new Executive Director and SallyAnne Santos has been promoted to the position of Creative Director. www.museumofyachting.org * W L Gore & Associates (UK) Limited, makers of Gore-Tex(r) fabrics, has become the technical fabric supplier of the Timberland Euro Prix 2004 * In Mojave, California, Virgin Atlantic today unveiled the Virgin Atlantic GlobalFlyer - an extraordinary 114-foot wingspan, single engine jet in which Steve Fossett aims to become the first solo pilot to fly non-stop around the world. The main structure is constructed entirely from advanced composite materials. It will fly at altitudes up to 52,000 feet and travel at speeds in excess of 250 knots. Careful flight planning, weather routing and navigation should allow it to benefit from the high-altitude jet stream, adding speed, conserving fuel and enabling the mission to meet its target time of 80 hours. * Correction: James Appel, Executive Secretary International Laser Class Association has pointed out that contrary to the announcement we carried in issue 1492 about the Miami OCR, "there are several other Laser Regattas in North America that are also Grade 1, the North Americans, CORK and the Midwinters East. Also the Tornados North Americans are a grade one as well as several Star regattas." * A slight clarification to the note about the Cruising World Boat of the Year contest in Butt 1492. The Beneteau 373, Catalina 387, Etap 37s and Hunter 41 were all finalists for the award in our Production Cruiser class, which was indeed won by the "unsinkable" Etap 37s. But the Overall Award for Best Cruising Boat of the Year went to the Hallberg-Rassy 40. It was the second straight year Hallberg-Rassy won our top prize. Herb McCormick, Editor, Cruising World. SAILING STEAMER Nope, not a new throwback yacht to a bygone era or a vegetable cooker for the high seas. Rather, its Gill's new cold weather sailing specific Steamer Wetsuit. Ideal for winter use, the 4/3-mm neoprene construction features blindstitched and glued seams for less water ingress and increased insulation. Ultra tough, small diamond reinforcement in sailors high wear areas with additional rubberized knee reinforcement makes this the most durable suit yet. Steam into the new-year and winter sailing season with a warm edge over your competition. Check out the Gill Steamer, available at Annapolis Performance Sailing. Click http://www.apsltd.com/depts/dept3573.asp LETTERS TO THE CURMUDGEON (editor@sailingscuttlebutt.com) Letters selected for publication must include the writer's name and may be edited for clarity or space - 250 words max. This is not a chat room nor a bulletin board - you only get one letter per subject, so give it your best shot and don't whine if others disagree.) * From Norrir Bourdow: - God bless you, Olin Stephens. You still have the insight and opinion that matters so much in our sport. You are "so" right! We seem to have legislated the "fun" out our sport in so many ways. * From David Tabor: Yet again Olin Stephens provides us with a clear and concise opinion on what is wrong with the world today. And in light of the PFD controversy I wonder how long until the USCG mandates that only boats with an overall length in feet greater than the wind speed in knots be permitted to venture out! So much for sailing my Laser in 25 kt. gusts. And my favorite Christmas present was "All this and Sailing too" by Mr. Stephens. He truly is the master of understatement! * From Jim Roser: Why don't they use the Z86 rule for the AC boats? The Z86 boats are way faster, and we all know fastest is fun! America's Cup management says they are taking 2000 lbs. out of the boats to make them faster but they will still be lead mines. If they use the Z86 rule: 1. The boats will be much more useful in regattas around the world. 2. It will not give a design advantage to the teams on top, ie. a more level playing field for entry-level teams. 3. Lots more fun to watch, the downwind speeds would be twice as fast. It just seems like a no-brainer to me and a win-win for the sponsors and Joe Public. * From Adrian Morgan: Another classic Scuttlebutt. Prosecutions for bumping into boats; regulations to make lifejackets compulsory; paranoia about personal safety; Big Brother Coast Guards (in bright orange PFDs) watching your every move; lawyers and legalities (don't even mention the America's Cup). God Bless the land of the Free. Trouble is, what goes on over there, sooner or later we get over here. And with the European Union doing its best to screw down on every remaining freedom and liberty, we're being squeezed from both sides. I reckon we Brits don't stand a chance. * From Jan Visser (edited to our 250-word limit): I cannot pass us the opportunity to comment on Petty Officer Anne Jaeschke's comment regarding PFD's. What absolutely astounds me is grown men who make such profound statements like "I want to have the right to choose". Well for openers what about the right of ones family to have you as a loving parent or grandparent for many more years, not the grief of premature loss. Oh yes, they recovered you but you were just hanging on by a thread, they did get you to a hospital, you survived but at what cost. Drowning victims who make it back have staggering costs in medical bills that can remain for the rest of their lives or what is left of it. Insurance companies don't always come through for the long haul, things run out. What about the cost of a rescue, ask your local marine patrols, it is staggering. I have just received the Coast Guard Boating Statistics for 2002 which can be accessed at www.uscgboating.org it is lengthy but it provides mountains of information. For those who want to have the right to choose, grow up and be a role model for your kids and grandkids, most importantly be there for many years to come because of smart decisions. Many thanks to the Coast Guard, they have a tremendous job, they do it well. * From Ray Tostado (edited to our 250-word limit): For P/O Jaeschke the concept of wearing a PFD is analogous to wearing a seat belt? Sorry- I can't buy that! Boats do not impact at 80 feet per second, and above. Water triggered PFDs are not always the answer if you are on a wet foredeck watch. (They go off.) Manual devices are meaningless if the victim in unconscious. Standard issue PFDs are not comfortable at many basic positions while on deck watch. Wearing them can cause fatigue. And believe me, I have never met a race crew member who was not looking forward to exhausting all of his or her unemployment benefits. It remains for the skipper to run a safe ship and exercise responsible judgment as to when the use of PFDs should be made mandatory to the crew, whether racing or cruising. (Race rules included.) I would propose that 95% of all CG rescues are of the cruiser variety. They are notoriously unprepared when they go to sea, having been educated no further into the safe methods of seamanship that it takes to make their monthly bank payments. I welcome a more energized CG effort to educate the public as to when to demand a PFD be made available to them. They, the boating public, are also responsible for their own safety and should not depend on enlightened skippers or government mandates. * From David Brookes: I would like to confirm the statement David Sprague made regarding women in sailing. At the recently completed Australian Hobie 16 Championships, nine out of the top ten finishers had female crews. The reigning Hobie 16 World Champion's are a male/female combination. The reasons are varied on why they sail with female crews, but all the teams agree that women sailors are every bit as competent as men. We should be encouraging everyone to sail to sail not putting obstacles in their way. Remember it is the family that sails together that stays together. * From Ray Wulff: In Response to 10% Women in Sailing: I would to invite Mr Rob Henderson to join the J-22 class. In an era where several classes are struggling to have boats on the starting line, the J-22 class has thrived. Why? Through the influx of women sailors. I cannot vouch for the other women's championships, but the ROLEX Woman's International Keelboat Regatta has done more to increase the involvement of woman in our sport and particularly the J-22 class than any other event. The growth in our fleet and class is the direct result of this regatta. (46% of our owners are woman) It has made the racing better (50+ Boats in our fleet, 25 every Thursday night), the parties better (Nuff said) , and made the regattas overall that much better. One unexpected side effect is that when planning a regatta, everyone needs to find a babysitter! * From Leo Reise, IJ CAN, (re RRS vs ColRegs): I am not a lawyer nor do I pretend to understand inner workings of the US court system, and least of all, an insurance company's interpretation of the RRS or ColRegs. I would suggest however that anyone interested in which right-of-way rules (RRS or ColRegs) apply between racing boats look to the US Court (First Circuit Court of Appeals) ruling of 1995, Juno srl and Charles Jourdan v. Endeavour and Endeavour Inc. It was published in the 'Journal of Maritime Law and Commerce, Vol 26, No 4, October 1995. The US court in its ruling, which referenced a number of other cases, made it very clear, even to a novice reader, which rules govern. On a personal note, I was a member of an International Jury when a Michigan DNR Officer insisted on being present. The officer did not understand sail boats or sail boat racing and before the hearing was going to charge at least one of the owners involved with the collision under the ColRegs! or Michigan's laws. Before and after the hearing the officer asked several questions of the panel, our scope, jurisdiction, and power to enforce decisions. After the hearing he voiced to me he was impressed with the manner in which the panel and sport operated. Based the facts collected by the jury the officer decided that no charges were necessary. * From Bob Cashman: I have always had a chuckle over the term ColRegs = Collision Regulations. Almost worthy of a Curmudgeon's Oxymoron - ColRegs: Regulation governing how to have a collision? HOLIDAY WILL CALL If you did not receive everything that was on your holiday gift list, it may be because your present is still waiting to be picked up. View the assortment of boats and equipment available in the Classified Ads section of the Scuttlebutt website: http://www.sailingscuttlebutt.com/classifieds CURMUDGEON'S OBSERVATION Christmas is weird. What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks? |
